Day 8: Ganpatipule – Ratnagiri

Today, for a change, we woke up really early (at 4:15am!) and set off by 5:30 to try and reach Ratnagiri before it got hot. We took the turning for Nevare. This road, after one or two tedious climbs, is beautiful, easy and short. Even if one does not want to go to Ganpatipule, they should take this road to Ratnagiri and not the direct one from Chaphe. This way, they can save about 6km and also get a great ride through the idyllic countryside. The road passed through forests and orchards containing mango trees full of fruit. Since we were cycling in the early morning, it was not at all hot or tiresome; on the contrary, extremely enjoyable.

We crossed a bridge over a creek en route. I noticed a change in the ways of the fishermen here. Not only did they not have as much shrimp as in Raigad, but they also protected their drying fish from crows and animals by using nets. This was in contrast with say, Dighi, where the people led a carefree fishing life and let anything and everything eat their bountiful catch. Perhaps the sea here does not yield as much as in earlier places.

The city of Ratnagiri is 2km further on from the old town. It is also higher. People routinely say “I am going up” or “I am going down” - origins of uptown and downtown? We reached by 9am and had our breaker opposite the ST stand. We have decided to call it a day and rest with Tushar “Golu” Chavan’s relatives here. We had called from Ganpatipule to say we would be arriving at about 10 and were touched to find Golu’s grandfather waiting for us at the main road at 9:50.

Golu’s relatives are very kind and hospitable and take good care of us. No awkward or discouraging questions about our cycling, as they had paid host to a team from BARC who were walking to Kanyakumari a few years back! Golu’s aunt, Savita Nagvekar, turns out to be a close friend of my departmental prof, Usha Powle. Looks like the IIT hand extends everywhere! Even when I went to encash my travelers cheque at Syndicate Bank, things were speeded up and I was treated courteously when I produced my IIT i-card. The manager instantly started talking in Kannada when he saw my surname.

In the evening, Devajit is ending his cycling and leaving back to Bombay for some “project” of his. The others have gone with Golu to see a fort nearby. I’ve decided to let my body rest and recollect and write the events of the past few days.

Lots of cats around. Two furry kittens too!

Estimate of distance covered today: 32km